What happens to REI rewards when the owner dies
Recreational Equipment, Inc. rewards are forfeited under the program's terms when the account is closed
REI Co-op Customer Service
REI does not publish an estate-claim timeline because the membership and Co-op Member Reward are non-transferable at death. The practical deadline is the expiration of any unredeemed Co-op Member Reward, which expires approximately one year after it is issued (REI issues the reward each year by March). Only the primary member may redeem, so the balance is generally forfeited once the member dies.
(General customer service)
Under Recreational Equipment, Inc.'s terms, REI rewards do not constitute property of the account holder and are forfeited when the account is closed upon death. There is no established process for transferring rewards to heirs or the estate.
Some families have reported receiving accommodations from Recreational Equipment, Inc. customer service, though this is not part of the official policy.
What to do
If a REI account holder has passed away, here is what to do:
- •Call REI customer service at 1-800-426-4840.
- •Email the membership team at member@rei.com.
- •See Contact us for current hours and live-chat options.
Required Documents
- Death certificate (if REI requests verification to close the account)
- The deceased member's REI Co-op member number or the email address on the account
Timeline
REI does not publish an estate-claim timeline because the membership and Co-op Member Reward are non-transferable at death. The practical deadline is the expiration of any unredeemed Co-op Member Reward, which expires approximately one year after it is issued (REI issues the reward each year by March). Only the primary member may redeem, so the balance is generally forfeited once the member dies.
Frequently asked questions
No. REI states the membership "cannot be transferred to someone else" and is "yours for life." It is personal to the individual member, with no beneficiary designation and no survivor transfer. A surviving spouse or family member who wants REI member benefits buys their own $30 lifetime membership.
No. REI specifies that only the primary member (not a spouse or other family member) may redeem their rewards, and its terms state rewards are "not transferable upon death ... or otherwise by operation of law." An unredeemed Co-op Member Reward is effectively forfeited at the member's death, so it is best redeemed during the member's lifetime, before it expires about a year after issuance.
REI publishes no beneficiary mechanism and no estate-claim process for the co-op membership or the Co-op Member Reward, because both are non-transferable at death. The only practical step is to contact REI customer service at 1-800-426-4840 or member@rei.com to close the account and stop further communications.
The REI Co-op Mastercard is a separate credit card account handled by the card issuer, not by REI itself, and it is settled through the estate like any other credit card. REI Co-op Mastercard Rewards no longer expire for the life of the account but remain tied to the cardholder, so coordinate with the card issuer rather than through the co-op membership.
Because rewards are forfeited at death, lifetime use is the only reliable strategy. Redeeming or sharing REI rewards while the account holder is alive ensures their value is not lost.
Sources
Data sourced from Recreational Equipment, Inc. primary sources (5 pages reviewed). How we research.
REI Co-op Customer Service
REI does not publish an estate-claim timeline because the membership and Co-op Member Reward are non-transferable at death. The practical deadline is the expiration of any unredeemed Co-op Member Reward, which expires approximately one year after it is issued (REI issues the reward each year by March). Only the primary member may redeem, so the balance is generally forfeited once the member dies.
(General customer service)
